Vaporizer



March 23 1926.

J. A. M LEAN VAPORIZER Filed Dec. 16. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEV March 23 192a. 3,5??338 J. A. M LEAN VAPORI ZER Filed Dec. 16, 1924 4 Sheets-$heet 2 Qua *3? ATTORNEY March 23 1926, 1,577,838

J. A. M -LEAN VAPORIZER Filed Dec. 16, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO/i' m) J. A. M LEAN VAPORIZER Filed Dec. 16, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 JOHN ALDEN'MACLEAN, 01E 'HAMPTON,

VAPOEIZER.

1'0 nil whom it may concern.

it. known'that 1, JOHN A. MaoLn-AN, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Hampton, in the county of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vaporizers; and I dohereby declare the following to be :a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others in the :art to which it appertains to make-and use the same. I

lily invention consists in the novel fea tures hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which show one form in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, and some slight modifications thereof, selected by me for purposes of illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed'in the following description and claims.

In carrying out my invention, 1 provide a hollow shell or body having a steam dome on its upper end and an enlarged opening at its forward end, closed by a door, normally bolted to the shell or bodyand carryiugthe individual heating units, which are preferably in the form of a spiral tube or tubes, connected .to manifolds secured to too door and extending into the interior of the shell or body and supported by the door, thesai-d door being also provided with supportingrol-lers, and a track engaging a supporting roller on the interior of the shell .or body, for maintaining the door and said heatingu-uits in vertical position when the same are drawn out of the shell or body for cleaning purposes. 1 also provide battles above the heating units in said shell or body for collecting liquid particles which would otherwise be carried into the steam or vapor dome, the said battles being provided with troughs for conveying the liquid collected by i'the bafiles to themain body of liquid being treated within the shell or bony, at points distant from the areas of ebullition or priming, so as to prevent liquid from heingtransported into "the steam dome and thenoethroughthe escape pipe without haviu been firstconver-ted into steam or vapor. My invention also contemplates, in one form embodiment of the same, the use of twin vaporizing units whiohinvolve an economy of construction and convenience of operation in that, by aneans of suitable pipeconnec- Lions and-control valves therefor, one of the twin vaporizers can be separated from the Application file'd'December 1:6, 19 24. rserial at. 1756,1818.

ing, without disturbing the continued vaporization in the other vaporizer of the twin element or unit. My invention also contemplates other features hereinafter more particularly pointed out.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a front elevation of a single vaporizing unit embodying my invention.

2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical'sectionof the single vaporizin gunitshowing the heating elements, and one form of'baflie.

' Fig. 4 is .a longitudinal section on line 4 lof Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a form "of baliie which maybe employed above the heating coils.

.-'Fi;g..6 aisa partial front elevation of the shell with the front cover plate removed showing the form of bafile, illustrated in Figs. land 4. i

lustrated-in Fig. '6.

Fig. v8 is :a perspective view .of the baffle shown in Figs. 6 and 7. i

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a twin vaporizing unit.

10 is a verticalitransverse sectional- -rcating with a steam or vapor-dome, 4c, having-an outlet aperture, 5, to which 1s-connected the vapor pipe for conducting the steam .or vapor toza con-denser, or other suit- .able mechanism. llhe front wall of the shell or body is provided with a large aperture, indicated at :6, .norinallyclosed by a vertically disposed door, 7., secured .to the shell orbodyby bolts or screws, or studs on shell in the usual manner, around the edges of the front :opening, 6. This door, 7., .is pro; vided at its lower end with a supporting roller, or rollers, 8, secured to the door in desired-manner, as by brackets, 9,:and

adapted to support the door and the parts carried thereby, andto facilitate the forward movement of the door, the rolls, 8,

may travel on the floor in front ofth'e shell is a partial sectional View similar to 4, showing the type of baffle ilor body, or upon a suitable metal track, if preferred. I11 order to maintain the door in vertical position at all times and prevent it from toppling rearwardly when drawn away from the shell or body, 1, I provide the door with an inwardly extending track, indicated at 10, which is preferably in the form of an angle or T in cross section, that is to say, it is provided with a downwardly extending roller engaging flange and a horizontal flange projecting on one or both sides of the vertical flange. This t 'ack may be conveniently made of either wrought or cast metal, and is rigidly bolted to the door and extends horizontally substantially perpendicularly to the door. The shell or body is I provided preferably just inside of the front opening, 6, with a grooved roller, 11, carried by a bracket, 12, boltedorotherwise secured to the shell or body, so that as the door is drawn out, the vertical flange of the track,

' 10, will engage the roller, 11, and support the door and parts connected therewith in vertical position. The rear or inner end of the track, 10, is preferably provided with downwardly extending stops or pro ections, indicated at 13, conveniently made by bending a portion of the horizontal flange of the disengaging the same accidentally when the door is drawn forward, and will serve to limit the outward movement of the door from the shell or body. 'I prefer to employ a T-shaped rail as the track rail, having horizontal flanges projecting on both sides of the central vertical flange as indicated in Fig. 3, so'that any sediment which may be collected on the track or rail will fall on the upper .face of the horizontal flanges, thus .insuring that the vertical flange which extends downwardly and the grooved roll will be protected against the deposit of sediment, so that the portion of the tract which coacts with the grooved roll and the rail willalways remain substantially clean and will be in condition for elficient action, but as before stated, I may employ an angle track .rail having a horizontal flange and a downuidin and su aortin roller within the shell,,it will be noted that when the track is pulled out the interiorof the shell is substantially free and unobstructed in its lower part, so that it'is very readily cleaned.

I prefer to employ as heating units, spiral coils of tubing, indicated-at 141., and preferably formed of copper or other suitable metal, which will not be affected by the liquid to be vaporized. I also prefer to support-the heating units from the door, by connecting them with the door, 7, so that they may be drawn forward therewith, and thereby removed from the interior of the shell or body, for the purpose of cleaning them when this becomes desirable. In the present instance I have shown the door provided with two upper manifolds, 15, and two lower manifolds, 16, each provided with threaded nipples to which the individual heating coils, 1 1, are connected by unions, said heating coils extending vertically from each manifold, 15, to the manifold, 16, beneath the same, the said manifolds andthe heating units connected therewith being thus supported entirely from the front door, 7. The manifolds are preferably provided with rear wardly extending brackets, indicated at 17, and the upper and lower manifolds are connected by vertical brace rods, 18, provided withnuts, 19, above and below the brackets, 17, as indicated in Fig. 4, so as to brace the manifolds and relieve them from strain due to the expansion and contraction of the heating units. It will be understood that the spiral structure of the heating coils or units, 141, permits them to accommodate themselves to variations in tei'nperature. The upper manifolds, 15, are connected on the exterior of the door 7, by atransversely extending intake manifold, 20, to which may be conveyed steam for furnishing the necessary heat to the heating units from any desired source of supply and the lower manifolds, 16, are connected by atransversely extending outlet manifold, 21, on the outside of the door, 7, for conveying away the con densate. I'may employ any desired number of heating units or coils, 14, which may be found desirable, according to the si /1e and capacity of the shell or body. In the pres ent instance I have shown these heating coils arranged between the manifolds,- 15 and 16, in pairs, side by side, five pairs of heating coils or units being connected between each manifold, 15, and its manifold, 16, and spaced at different distances from the door, 7, towards the rear of the shell or body, but I do not limit myself to this exact arrange-- ment.

Above each rearwardly extending series of heating units within the shell or body I provide a suitable bafile or baffles, interposed between the upper portion of the shell or body and the steam dome, and preferably above the areas: of ebullition or priming. which will naturally be directly above the several heating units or coils. In Fig. 5 I have shown one form of baffle two of which may be arranged side by side, each comprising an upwardly curved metal plate, 22, hav ing its edges curved inwardly and upwardly, as at 23, to form troughs, 24, extending along the longitudinal edges of the baffles. the said baffles, 22, being placed closely adjacent to partition, indicated at 35, having s- "troug'hs, 3:6, arranged at each side of said partition :at its lower edge, and extending the drawings.

1, 5 77.,ess .8

id :hetween thorn and said battles, and tron hs being lnchned longitudinally,

c prefrerahly downwardly from rear to front "of the shell or body supported in any suitable manner within the These battles may be .c 11g, prefer 'lyby brackets secured-to the walls-o theshe'll or body. @bviously as the vapor is above theliqui d level in the shell or body it will pas-s inito t he battles and thence around the upper endthereot to the :steanrdrune, and any water particles carried by the vapor or co densed therefrom will i olzlow the ciu'vature of the battles, :22, and find its way into the troughs, 2%, along which the collected liquid will flow to the trout end of the baliles, whereit will tall into the liquid at points distant from the areas of greatest eh i ition, or priming. 'ln-soine instances I employ a secondary battle in the zsteaniidonie, as indicated in Figs. 3 and d, comps-111g a tri'uicated cone, 25, surn'iounted by cap, 26, of larger diameter than the o ienin' at the u 3 )er end of the trun- ':a:'ted cone, secured to the latter below its upper endand provided with lateral apertures, indicated at 97, for further deflecting the. vapor and effecting the deposit of any liquid whichniay pass the haiiies, 22, so that only vapor-reaches the upper portion of the an-i dome: andpassesofl through theapertune, to the conducting vapor pipe (not shown).

In Figs. 8, d, '6, Tend 8, l have illustrated a'diflerent i' orni ot battle which consists of :a horizontal plate, 32, having its lateral edges bent downwardly, as at-31, then ini rdly, as :at 30, and upwardly, as at 33,to

torin lateral troughs, 34, extending longitudinally of the. b-aflle. In this form o fbaflle it is made o l sutiicient width to extend above two series of heating units, and is therefore provided with a central, v rtical imi lar longitudinally of the halide plate, 32, to wihiclrthe upper edge 01 the partition may be connected by rivets or otherwise. This bafiie plate is also provided with a hack 91086 indicated zit-37 )lOVl'ClGd with "transverse-1y disposed trough sections, 38, ex-

tending downwardly from the central portroughs, 34 and 36, incline downw the baokpla te tow-ard'the front of hc shell or body, where they disc-harge'the collected domes, 4, ran

by detachable door or plate, --terror construction of each of these conipartis,'towards the back plate, 37,, while andly from liquid into the nra inbody or" liquid within the shell orbody at points distant {ID-0111 the areas of eb-ullition or priming.

In Figs. 9 and i I have illustrated a duplex or twin vaporizing unit in which shell or casing, indicated at l is provided "\VlfillifiiZXX O compartments separated by a ver- 1.

tical partition, 5'0, each of said ments heing 0+ subrtant' ly the same size and conforming in all )QC'tS to the shell or body illustrated in :r a l to 4; inclusiv The casing, 1*, is provided withtwo st are l each compartment is'provided with the front opening, 6, normally closed inents including the heating units, baffles, manifolds, etc, are exactly the same as have been heretofore described with reference to p the preceding figures, itbeing understood that 1 may Enlll shown in the sa? 1 Figs. l'to 4;, or the form of ba des shown in 6, 7 and S. The e r-{ll parts shown in Figsv i9 and 10 which are identical with those shown in Figs. .1 to l inclusive, are .giventhe same reference numerals with the added. In

letter a Fig. 9 I have shown the inlet manifolds eennected'with a common supp-lypipe, indicated at 51, the branch pipes being controlled by separate valves, 5:2 and 53, and in like -inan ner l have shown the steam domes connected to a common vapor delivery pipe, indicated at 54c, the branch pipes being controlled by independent valves, 55 and 5'6. In this twin construction it will be readily seen that an economy of operation is elected, as there will be no loss of heat when both 01' the units of the twin construction are in operation, at their contiguous points, as any difi erences in temperature within the separate chambers of the twin units will be enchan 'ed from one chamber to the other through the partition wall, 50., instead of being radiated to the atmosphere, as would be the case where two ntirely separate single units were employed. The twin .unit is also extremely convenient in o "-rat-ion, as by closing the appropriate valves controlling the steam inlet to and vapor outlet from one unit, the front door or plate, 7, thereof may be removed and drawn out, together with the heating units in the manner pr viously described with reterence to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and i, to facilitate cleaning the interior of the chamberand the heating coils without interfering with the continuous ope -a tion oft-he other chamber, which will continue to *fun'ctiaon'so that vaporization may as carried on continuously while one or other otthe chambers of the twin unit is either the form of ba'liles open when necessary for cleaning or repair. it will be understood that each of the 'front doors, 7 will be provided with the supporting track, 10, having the stop, 13, and the interior supporting roller, 12, as previously described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4t.

In the operation of my improved vaporizer it will be understood that the liquid to be vaporized is introduced into the interior of the shell or body by means ot suitable pipes, 60, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and st, for example, and may be led thereto continuously it desired. vSteam. from any suitable source is admitted to the heating units through the exterior and interior manifolds, before described, thus imparting heat to the liquid under treatment and vaporizing the same. The vapor as it rises comes into contact with the battles, depositing any liquid particles carried thereby or condensed therefrom, and passing around the battles, ascends into the steam dome, from which it is de livered by suitable pipe to a condenser. My improved vaporizer is admirably adapted for the purpose of distilling sea water on vessels, :or the production 01 pure water for boiler feeding, and other purposes, although it may be used for the vaporization or distillation 01: any liquid, for which it may be found to be convenient or desirable.

ll hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A vaporizer comprising among its members, a shell having an opening therein, a door detachably secured over said opening, a heating element mounted on the door,

. roller supporting means for the door located outside of the shell, a horizontal track rigidly secured to the inner face of said door and projecting through said opening into the interior otthe shell, and a track support within said shell for movably engaging said track when the door is moved away from the ..hell.

2. A. vaporizer comprising among its members a shell having an opening therein,

members a shell having an opening therein,

a door detachably secured over said opening, a heating element mounted on the door, roller supporting means for the door located outside of the shell, a horizontal track rigidly secured to the inner face of said door and projecting through said opening into the interior of the shell, said track being provided with a vertically disposed flange member and a horizontally disposed flange member adjacent to the upper edge of the vertical flange member, anda supporting roller rigidly secured within the shell adjacent to. said opening therein, and engaging the vertical flange member of said track.

t. A vaporizer comprising among its members a shell having an opening therein,

a door detachably secured over said opening,

a heating element mounted on the door, roller supporting means for the door located outside of the shell, a horizontal track rigidly secured to the inner face of said door and projecting through said opening into the interior of the shell, said track being provided with a vertically disposed flange member, and a horizontally disposed flange member above said vertical flange member, a guiding and supporting roller rigidly supported within the'shell adjacent to the said opening therein, portions of the horizontal flange member, at the inner end of the track, being bent downwardly to form a stop to limit the outward movement of the track and door. I

. 5. A vaporizer comprising among its members a shell having an opening therein, a door detachably secured over said opening, a heating element mounted on the door, a 'l'-sl1aped track rigidly secured to theinner face of said door, and extending through said opening into the interior of the shell, a grooved roller and a supporting bracket therefor secured to said shell within the same adjacent to the said opening and engaging the vertical flange of said T-shaped track, whereby the horizontal flanges of said track will protect the vertical flange thereof and said roller from deposited solid matter.

6. A vaporizer comprising among its members a shell having an opening therein,

, a door detachably secured over said opening,

a heating element mounted on, the door, a T-shaped track rigidly secured to the inner face of said door, and extending through said opening into the interior of the shell, grooved roller and a supporting bracket therefor secured to said shell within the same adjacent to the said opening and engaging the vertical flange of said T-shaped track, whereby the horizontal flanges of said track willprotect the vertical flange thereof and said roller from deposited solid matter, portions out the horizontal flanges of said T-shaped track adjacent to the inner end thereof being bent downwardly into substantially vertical position on opposite sides of the vertical flange, into position to engage said supporting roller and limit the outward movement of the track and door.

7. A vaporizer comprising among its members a shell, heating elements located therein, a battle plate supported in said shell above the hea-ting' elements and providedwith inclined trcugh-s for returning the liquid collected thereby, to the lic uid within the shell at aom-ts outside ottherzoneof the heat-ing elements and distant trom the areas of greatest ebullitionl 8.. A vaporizer comp-rising among its members, a shell, heating elements locatedtherein, a: battle plate supported in said shell above the heating elements, said batlle plate having downwardly extending lateral portions provided with inclined troughs on their inner faces for returning the liquid collected thereby to the liquid in the shell at points outside of the zone of the heating elements and distant from the areas of greatest ebullition.

9, A vaporizer comprising among its members, a shell, heating elements located therein, a bailie plate supported in said shell above the heating elements, said ballle comprising a transversely curve-d plate having its lateral edge portions extending downwardly from its central portion and bent inwa-rdly and upwardly to form channels, said bafile plate and said channels being inclined so as to return liquid collected thereby to the liquid in the shell at points outside of the zone of the heating elements and distant from the areas of greatest ebullition.

10. A vaporizer comprising among its members, a shell, heating elements located therein, a baffle plate supportedin said shell above the heating elements, saidbatfie con sisting of a plate curved transversely and having its lateral edges extending downwardly from its central portion and bent inwardly and upwardly to form lateral troughs, and a back plate provided with a trough on its inner face discharging into one of the lateral troughs said lateral troughs discharging at points outside the zone of said heating elem nts.

11. A vaporizer comprising among its members a shell, heating elements locate-c therein, a baflie plate supported in said shell above the heating elements, said bafiie consisting or" a plate curved transversely and having its lateral edges extending downwardly from its central portion and bent inwardly and upwardly to form lateral troughs, and a back plate provided with transversely disposed troughs extending downwardly from the central portion of the plate and discharging into said lateral troughs, said lateral troughs discharging at points outside: the zone of said heating elements.

12. A vaporizer comprising among its members, ashell, heating elements located therein, a bafiie plate supported in said shell above the heating elements, said baflie consisting of a transversely curved plate having its lateral edges extending downwardly from its central portion. and provided on; their: inner faces with lateraltroughsand longie tudinal central vertical partition depending trom the central? portion off. said plate and provided on opposite sides; oil its lower edge with troughs, said troughs discharging at, points outside the Zone of said heating elements.

A vaporizer comprising among its members a shell, heating elements located therein, a bafiie plate supported in said shell above the heating elements, said battle consisting of a transversely curved plate having its lateral edges extending downwardly from its central portion and provided on their inner faces with inclined lateral troughs and a central vertical partition depending from the central portion of said plate and provided on opposite sides of its lower edge with troughs parallel to said lateral troughs, and a back plate provided with transversely disposed incline-d troughs communicating with the said lateral troughs, said lateral troughs discharging at points outside the zone of said heating elements.

14-. A vaporizer comprising among its members, a shell provided with two compartments separated by a partition, of heat conducting material, each of said chambers having a front. opening therein, a door detachably secured over each of said openings and provided with roll-er supporting means exterior to the shell, a heating unit secured to each of said doors, a supporting track secured to each of said doors and projecting into the interior of the shell, track supporting and guiding means for movably engaging one of said tracks located within each chamber, means for supplying steam to the heating unit of each chamber, a steam dome for each chamber provided with a vapor outlet, and independent valves for controlling the steam inlet and vapor outlet of each chamber, whereby, by closing certain of said valves, the door of one chamber may be removed with the heating unit therefor, without interrupting the vaporizing in the other chamber.

15. A vaporizer comprising among its members, a shell provided with a central vertical partition formed integrally therewith and dividing the shell into two chambers, each of said chambers being provided with a front opening, a door detachably secured to said shell over said opening, a heating unit supported by each of said doors and extending into the adjacent chamber, means for supplying steam to both of said heating units, a separate steam dome for each chamber provided with a vapor outlet, and independent valves for controlling the vapor outlet and. steam supply for each chamber, whereby the door and heating unit of one chamber may be withdrawn for cleaning the said chamber, and the heating unit therefor, Without disturbing the other chamber.

16. A vaporizer eomprlsing among 1ts 5 members a shell having an opening in one rigidly secured to the inner face of said door and movable therewith, and extending through the said opening in to the interior of said shell, and a track supporting device supported Within said shell and movably engaging said track.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN ALDEN MACLEAN. 

